Phone Calls Take the Place of In-Person Visits for Reporting Children's Illnesses and Obtaining Medical Certificates
In a move aimed at reducing the risk of infection in waiting rooms, parents and employees can now report health issues over the phone and obtain necessary certificates from their doctors. This new procedure applies to both sick employees and parents who need to take time off to care for ailing children.
The New Procedure for Sick Parents
Parents can now call their doctors' offices to report their children's illnesses and receive the required medical certificates for child sickness benefits. The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds and the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians reached an agreement that allows for issuing certificates by phone for five days, given the child is known to the doctor and the physician deems it appropriate to issue the certificate remotely.
The Existing Procedure for Sick Employees
Employees who are unable to work due to their own illnesses have been able to obtain sick notes by telephone since December 7, 2022. The condition is that they are known to the practice and do not exhibit serious symptoms. This policy is now being extended to cover cases where children are ill, and parents need a doctor's certificate to apply for child sickness benefit.
The Role of Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach advocated for this regulation, which aims to further prevent infections in waiting rooms. The new procedure should contribute to better infection control in medical facilities.
Importance of Medical Certificates
Health insurance funds cover a significant portion of the income loss and pay child sickness pay, usually 90% of the net salary lost, when parents take time off work to care for sick children up to the age of twelve.
Some Insights on Health and Medical Certifications
In California, medical certifications for child sickness benefits due to illness follow different procedures. For Paid Family Leave (PFL) claims, licensed physicians or practitioners must complete and sign the Physician/Practitioner's Certification. In California, syphilis screening and health alerts related to infectious diseases continue to be important.
In Europe, the process is different, and the new policy allows for medical certifications by phone for reasons of infection control. By reducing the number of in-person visits, this policy ensures better patient care and infection prevention.
[1] Employment Development Department –
[2] California Department of Public Health –
[3] Employment Development Department –
